Bomb



. W. 0. SPENCER.

BOMB.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, l9l8.

Patented 'Apr. 6, 1920.

awveMbo z I "barren snares rariirir @FFKQE.

WILLIAM O. SPENCER, OF SHREVEPOR-T, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR'OF ONEJ-IALE TO EDWARD E. GEORGE, OF SI-IREVEPOET, LOUISIANA.

BOMB.

Application filed April 26, 1918.

- specification.

This invention is a bomb of that class intended primarily to be dropped from a height, as from an aeroplane, airship or the like.

The invention contemplates providing a bomb which will discharge missiles radially thereabout in substantially horizontal planes at various levels.

A further object is to provide means for firing the missiles.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a simple, cheap, and eflicient bomb.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a central, longitudinal section of a bomb constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing in longitudinal section one of the shell bar rels.

Referring to the drawing by numerals of reference In carrying out the invention there is provided a tubular body 1, herein shown cylindrical, within which is a centrally located pipe or tube 2. The outer casing or body 1 is connected to the tube 2 by means of a series of radially disposed pipes or barrels 3, the outer ends of which are secured within apertures in the body 1 by shrinking or otherwise, while their inner ends are threaded into nipples 4 which are secured Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 230,962.

by shrinking or otherwise in apertures formed in the central tube 2.

Plugs 5 are threaded into the nipples 4: and are centrally apertured to receive the firing pins 6 which are slidably mounted therein. Shells 7 are placed in the barrels 3 and are held in place therein by the plugs 5, as seen most clearly in Fig. 3.

The upper end of the outer shell or body 1 is headed and within this shell and above the inner tube 2 are formed chambers inone of which may be placed inflammable'material 8, while in the other is placed an explosive and metal scraps 9. The explosive may be ignited by a percussion cap which is struck by a firing pin 10.

In the lower end of the bomb a reinforced chamber 11 may be formed and within this chamber is placed scrap metal and explosive 12 which may be fired by the firing pin 13 coming in contact with a percussion cap. The purpose of these explosive chambers is to destroy the bomb after the same has been tired so that it may not fall into the hands of an enemy and be recharged. The inflammable material also acts to set fire to houses or other buildings with which the bomb may come in contact. It will be understood that the firing device will be so spaced that the pins 6 will be first struck and the shells 7 fired before the explosive charges in the end chambers are set off.

\Vhile the firing device may be of any convenient construction, it is herein shown as consisting of pipe sections ll connected by the threaded joints or collars 15, the upper edges of which are beveled to ride past the firing pins and permit the face of the collar to throw the pin to firing position. This firing device extends below the lower end of the bomb and may be locked against accidental motion by a bolt 16 which is secured to the lower end of the bomb.

A bail like handle is'secured to the upper end of the bomb and serves to hang the device beneath an aeroplane or airship.

In practice the device is used as follows t The shells 7 are loaded and placed in the barrels 3. The barrels are then threaded into the nipples at, a suitable wrench being used for this purpose. The bomb is then hung from a suitable grappling hook or the like below an airship or aeroplane, and a loop is also passed about the extending end of the firing device so that the bomb is held suspended in a substantially horizontal position.

When the bomb is to be dropped, the loop is removed from the firing device and the bomb allowed to assume a vertical position, suspended by its handle. The grappling hook is then released and the bomb drops with its lower end, which is the heaviest, down, thereby causing the firing device to strike first and be forced into the bomb to fire the shells and explosives.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and sought by Letters Patent, is

1. A projectile comprising a tubular body, a segmental tube centrally located within said body, threaded collars connecting the segments of the tube, said collars presenting camming surfaces, radially disposed barrels, a support for said barrels, firing shells supported by the barrels, a plug supported adjacent each shell, a firing pin mounted in each plug, said firing pins adapted to be engaged by the camming surfaces of the collars, a compartment at the upper end of the body and a compartment at the lower end of the body, explosive in said compartments, and means operated by the collars for firing the explosive material within the upper and lower compartments.

2. A projectile comprising a tubular body, a sectional tube centrally located within said body, means for connecting the sections of the tube, radially disposed barrels, firing shells supported by the barrels, firing pins for causing the firing of the firing shells, said firing pins adapted to be engaged by the means for connecting the sections of the tube for causing the firing of the firing shells, explosive containing compartments adjacent the ends of the body, and means associated with each compartment and contacting with the sectional tube for causing the firing of the explosive material within the compartment. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM O. SPENCER.

Vitnesses M. T. HAssLER, W. P. HALL. 

